05085 - West Newbury, Vt.
Bree Watts lives in West Newbury, Vt., with her mother, Denise Fisher. She spends weekdays with her life skills aide, Marie Winthrop, of Bradford. The following is an edited interview with Watts.
I have Down's Syndrome and my mom tells me it means sometimes I go get help. My mom is my guardian because she keeps me safe and healthy, and Marie gives me help.
Before Marie it was Judy. Judy said don't swear in public or anywhere else because then no one wants to be around you. We made Christmas ornaments that looked like a cow.
Mondays I work with Marie at Momma's store. We do clothing. We sort the clothes: the men's, the kids', the boys' and the ladies.' I dust, I clean and take the trash out. When customers come in I help with the cash register. I work Mondays 9 to 5.
Tuesdays we go to Weight Watchers. I'm learning to eat carefully and be careful about small portions. I have to count my points. Different foods have different points, salad, vegetables, fruit salads, all that stuff. I lost twenty-seven pounds in one year but sometimes it's hard. I can't eat ice cream and cake and chocolate and donuts. If Marie eats a donut I say, "No, Marie, it's not good for your points."
Wednesdays we go to the laundromat for me and my mom. That's my chore for helping out. We put the laundry in, put the quarters in then go get something to eat, but not too much. Marie gets dessert. Sometimes she shares, but it's not good for my points.
Thursdays we go bowling. I go on the bus with Upper Valley Services and Marie picks me up.
Friday is a fun day. We get to do something fun.
Marie is a good friend. She likes me, she's fun and she gives me food. She's a good girl, but sometimes she drives me crazy. I get upset when I say I want to spend two nights with her and she says only one. And sometimes she gets me all hyper and then she's hyper. In her car, we can car dance to the music, but Marie says I can't do some moves because we might crash or people might think we're crazy.That's okay. She looks after me, that's what she does.